Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend a super high end media only event at this year’s PGA Show, the announcement by my good friends at Bridgestone Golf about their new flavors of B330-RX. The RX (RX must be because the ball is prescription strength) is perhaps my favorite golf ball.

Two new series, the RX and RXS will cater even more to golfers (like me) with slower swing speeds.

Last year during the PGA Show my last product interview was with Sumi-g, a very hip golf accessory company which had just launched. As I talked to the president of the company Marius, I’d found out that we had a lot in common. First, we’re both golf junkies with similar handicap levels. Second, we lived in the same town. Third, we’d been playing the same course every Thursday for years, our tee times about 45 minutes apart.

Over the last year I’ve done numerous posts and product reviews about Sumi-g head covers, belts and other accessories. I’ve played dozens of rounds of golf with Marius, and our friendship developed over the year.

Toward the end of 2009 I’d started looking for a new gig, as my other business world, the media duplication industry, was on life support. Technological advances (digital downloads etc) and the economy were putting that business model to sleep. I knew I had to jump ship before the boat sank. Then one day Marius approached me and asked if I’d join Sumi-g. I guess he’d gotten to know me well enough and through seeing how excited I was about the product line in person and on my web sites, saw some value in what I could offer. I decided to take a leap of faith and jump from my sinking ship into a new position as national sales manager for the company.

Not To Worry

My web ventures like Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space are happy and healthy and it aren’t going anywhere.

As far as a conflict of interest goes that is an interesting thing to ponder. If some company who competes with Sumi-g sends me a head cover or a belt or accessory to review, what will I say? I’ve gone over that in my head for a while. It really comes down to what I’ve always done, which is call ’em like I see ’em. If the thing is awesome, I’ll write about it. If it sucks, then I’ll write that too.

2010 PGA Show

Yes I’ll be at this year’s PGA Show. But most of that time will be spent working the booth. I’ll throw my press credential on a run a round a bit, but this year I won’t be able to do the massive coverage I’ve done in previous years. I will be blogging about the show regardless so there will be plenty of info to chomp on. I’ll also have other insights on what it is like behind the scenes and what is up at the Wednesday demo day. I’ll be attending that for the first time.

So if you want to come by and say hello, ask for me me in booth #3629. That’s where I’ll be most of the show.

When FootJoy announced the end of their Classic shoe line, I knew people on suicide watch. They were stocking up, like back when Coke changed their formula. Well fear not those of you standing on the ledge, the new FootJoy Icons are worth living for.

Icon Leathers

The Icons are made from fine calfskin and full grain leather. Calfskin leather is attractive and is highly resistant to stretching. Full grain leather is breathable, durable and is highly waterproof. FootJoy is so confident in the waterproofing that they warrant it for two years.

Last but not least in the leather department are the linings, which provide padding and more comfort.

Memory Foam

“Memory foam” (can I get some for my brain?) in the tongue and collar of the shoe produce shaping and custom fit.

Other Technologies

Other technologies the FJ Icons employ include the “Dual Optiflex Zones” which produce walking comfort and the “Torque Bar” (the silver dotted thing pictured right, in the bottom of the shoe between the heel and front of the foot) which increases stability and just plain looks cool.

I could go on and on with all the tech stuff but I’m going to just move to the next and most important heading…

On The Course

My Icons are so good looking I don’t even want to wear them for fear of scuffing them up or getting them dirty. But I was a trooper this past season and did manage to play about 40 rounds with them. After 40 rounds, they look the same as new when I clean them up.

I still remember the first few rounds I played with the Icons. The pros and hot players around were all drooling over my shoes. “Are those the new Icons?!?!” Yup, they are. “Ohhhhh.”

I’m not much of a “dress shoe” guy. I prefer Vans. Actually I’ll take that a step farther. I’m not much of a shoe guy. In the summer the ONLY shoes I wear are golf shoes. Other than that it is typically bare feet or sandals. Yes I have FJ sandals.

The Icons took a few rounds to really break in, and for the memory foam to gain consciousness I suppose. But after that I’ve hardly been aware that I’m wearing golf shoes. They’re molded right to my feet and comfortable. Walking a full 18 holes is no big deal. I do need to air them out though, as my feet can get sweaty. Thats a good reason to own two pairs Icons, so you can alternate them every other day. 🙂

Conclusion

Though I’ve typically been more of a fan of the cushier types of golf shoes like the Contour series I reviewed here, I’m thrilled with the comfort and performance of my Icons. Most surprising of all perhaps, is their durability and the way they look so great even after so many rounds.

I’ve had the pleasure of evaluating several different brands and models of golf balls over the last season. I’m beginning to wonder if any company is making a bad golf ball these days. One of the very best is the Srixon Z-Star and Z-Star-x series. The Z-Star is the softer and and more “spinny” of the two.

Z-Star Construction

The Z-Star is a three layer ball. The three layers are the core, mid-layer and cover.

The cover is .02 inches and made of urethane. The thin cover helps the player control shots and gives the player great control in the short game.

So it is January 6, 2010. I can’t quite remember the last time I hit a golf ball. Wait, it is coming back to me. It was last year, December 21st. For me to go 16 days without playing golf is like Obama going 29 seconds without saying the word “change.” It is like JD going 12 minutes without a beer, TW going two hours without… oh boy. Nevermind.

For my last few rounds before Antarctica struck (and don’t get me started on the global warming farce because I’m freezing my golf balls off right now) I played with the new Bridgesone e6 Straight golf ball. Straight is a good thing on my home course, because left is hazard and right is hazard. Well, short is hazard and long is hazard too but I can hit a straight ball right into a water hazard short.

Should I start over? I feel like I’m twisting my own brain into a pretzel. How one twists three braincells (the max my cranium can hold) into a pretzel is another story… Think my medication prescription ran out? Nope, it is just winter here. And winter sucks because I can’t golf.

e6 Straight

OK I have to ask before I do my e6 “Straight” overview. Is there an e6 “gay” or as I prefer to say in a more politically correct manner, “e6 heterosexually challenged?”